Officers from Taizhou Customs inspect the Yuhuan pomelos at Yongfeng Xianguo Cooperative. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Workers at Yongfeng Xianguo Cooperative in Yuhuan, a county-level city in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, sorted and packed pomelos for export on Nov 13, marking the first time the locally grown fruit will be sold in the Canadian market.

The shipment represents a major step for the region, long known for producing bright, tender, and juicy pomelos regarded as the "king of pomelos" in China.

Growers in Yuhuan have been cultivating the fruit for more than a decade, but many lacked experience in accessing overseas markets. That changed late last year, when Taizhou Customs learned of exporters' intentions and began providing one-to-one guidance. Teams helped companies understand export standards for fresh produce and Canada's quarantine requirements. They also helped them establish traceable quality-control systems covering orchard management, harvesting, packaging, and transport.

Customs specialists also inspected orchards several times to advise growers on monitoring and controlling pests, lowering biological risks throughout the planting season. With technical support in place, both the orchards and packing facilities passed the required assessments for outbound fruit and secured export registration.

The milestone export is expanding opportunities for the Yuhuan pomelo industry. In addition to fresh fruit, producers have built a broader value chain that includes pomelo juice, wine, preserved snacks, aromatherapy products, and skincare items, linking planting, sales, processing, and tourism. Local growers say the shipment strengthens their confidence in reaching international markets.